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The relationship between Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) and follicular cell-derived thyroid cancer remains unclear. Recently, 2 studies reported a 95% prevalence of RET/PTC rearrangements in histologically benign tissue affected by HT, [...]

P. Smyth (*) O. Sheils (*) S. Finn (*) C. Martin (+) J. O'Leary (+) E. C. Sweeney (*) Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most common variety of thyroid cancer, [...]

2017 FEB 18 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Investigators discuss new findings in Oncology - Thyroid Cancer. According to news [...]

2016 DEC 3 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Data detailed on Oncology - Thyroid Cancer have been presented. According to [...]

2016 NOV 19 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- New research on Ethylamines is the subject of a report. According to [...]

2016 OCT 8 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Investigators publish new report on Oncology - Thyroid Cancer. According to news [...]

2016 OCT 8 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Investigators publish new report on Oncology - Thyroid Cancer. According to news [...]

2016 SEP 24 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Current study results on Oncology - Thyroid Cancer have been published. According [...]

2016 AUG 13 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Data detailed on Oncology have been presented. According to news reporting from [...]

2016 AUG 6 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Investigators discuss new findings in Oncology. According to news originating from Los [...]

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2016 JUN 18 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Investigators publish new report on Oncology. According to news reporting originating from [...]

2016 JUN 4 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Current study results on Oncology have been published. According to news reporting [...]

2016 MAY 14 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Current study results on Oncology have been published. According to news reporting [...]

2016 APR 30 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Researchers detail new data in Oncology. According to news reporting out of [...]

2016 APR 23 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Current study results on Oncology have been published. According to news reporting [...]

BACKGROUND: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A (MEN 2A) is a hereditary syndrome characterized by medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), pheochromocytoma, and hyperparathyroidism. Familial MTC (FMTC) is characterized by MTC only. Both MEN 2A and FMTC are caused by germline mutations of the RET proto-oncogene. PURPOSE: To assess genotype/phenotype correlations, large families have to be examined periodically over a long period using an extensive screening program. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Since 1973, we screened a large family with hereditary C cell carcinoma for MTC, pheochromocytoma, and parathyroid disease by clinical tests and imaging methods. A germline codon Cys618 to Ser mutation in the RET proto-oncogene was recently identified in this family. The disease phenotype associated with this mutation was compared with that of Cys634 mutations in some other large MEN 2A families. RESULTS: The distinct course of disease in the family described here is similar to that in other FMTC families and MEN 2A families with a Cys618 mutation of the RET gene, but clearly different from that in families with a Cys634 mutation. The frequency of pheochromocytomas and parathyroid disease is clearly lower, whereas cure rates and life expectancy are higher. However, in families with a Cys618 mutation, pheochromocytoma and parathyroid disease do occur. CONCLUSION: In FMTC families with cysteine codon mutations of the RET proto-oncogene, screening for other endocrinopathies is mandatory, since these may not be MTC-only families. Therefore, we suggest that MEN 2A families should not be subclassified into MEN 2A and FMTC, but rather according to their specific mutation in the RET protein fie, for this family MEN 2A RET C618s). 1996 by Excerpta Medica, Inc. Am J Med. 1996;101:635-641.

Byline: Daniela Kandioler, Gerhard Dekan, Adelheid End, Eva Paschinga, Heidi Buchmayer, Michael Gnant, Florian Langmann, Christine Mannhalter, Franz Eckersberger, Ernst Wolner Abstract: When solitary pulmonary tumors are observed in patients with a history of cancer, differentiation between metastasis and primary lung cancer is crucial for appropriate therapy. Assuming that p53 mutations are conserved in metastases, mutation analysis of the p53 gene would be a valuable tool in differentiating metastases from primary carcinomas of the lung. In nine of 267 resected lung tumors, the origin of the lung tumor could not be defined histologically. Five patients had a history of colorectal carcinoma, one had a history of breast carcinoma, one had a history of soft-tissue carcinoma, and one had a history of head and neck carcinoma. One patient with a clear cell carcinoma of the lung had been surgically treated for both renal and thyroid cancer. Material from one patient with adenocarcinoma of the lung, histologically defined regional lymph nodes, and distant brain metastasis served as a control. We extracted deoxyribonucleic acid from the snap-frozen tissue of the unclassified lung tumors, from paraffin-embedded tissue of the previously removed primary cancers, and also from peripheral blood of the patients. Exons 2 to 11 of the p53 gene were amplified in separated polymerase chain reactions and directly sequenced. In all cases, the presence of germline mutations was excluded by analysis of peripheral blood deoxyribonucleic acid. The p53 mutation detected in the deoxyribonucleic acid of the lung tumor of the control patient proved to be conserved in the lymph nodes as well as in the brain metastasis. In two cases, the lung tumors exhibited a p53 mutation not present in the previously removed primary tumor and were therefore classified as new primary lung cancers. In five cases, the lung tumors proved to be metastases of the first tumor, exhibiting the identical p53 mutation. One of these lung tumor samples could be identified as a metastasis from the renal cancer, but the corresponding thyroid cancer material was different. For two cases, molecular analysis remained inconclusive. In one case, no p53 mutation could be found in the compared samples; in the other, no deoxyribonucleic acid could be extracted. Analysis of p53 mutations allowed exact classification in tumors for which standard methods failed to distinguish between metastasis or primary tumor. More than two thirds of lung tumors in patients with previous gastrointestinal carcinoma were revealed to be metastases, but second primary lung cancer could also be diagnosed. This diagnosis allowed correct surgical and adjuvant treatment of these patients. (J T HORAC CARDIOVASC SURG 1996;111:827-32) Article History: Received 27 April 1995; Revised 17 July 1995; Revised 11 December 1995; Accepted 14 December 1995 Article Note: (footnote) [star] From the Departments of Surgery,a Clinical Pathology,b and Laboratory Medicine,c the University of Vienna Medical School, Vienna, Austria., [star][star] Read at the Seventy-fifth Annual Meeting of The American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Boston, Mass., April 23-26, 1995., a Address for reprints: Daniela Kandioler, MD, Department of Surgery, University of Vienna, Wahringergurtel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria., aa As.By invitation., acents 0022-5223/96 $5.00 + 0, acentsacents 12/6/71253

Background. The distinction of sporadic from inherited medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCS) is of clinical importance because of the differences in prognosis, and the need for family screening for genetic counseling required in the latter. Germline mutations in the RET protooncogene are associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) type 2A, familial medullary thyroid carcinoma (FMTC), and MEN type 2B. Somatic point mutations in the same gene have been identified in a subset of sporadically occurring medullary thyroid carcinomas.Methods. A nonisotopic polymerase chain reaction-(PCR) based single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and heteroduplex gel electrophoresis method was used to screen DNA extracted from 32 formaldehyde fixed and paraffin embedded MTC specimens and normal tissue or blood of the same patient for point mutations in BET exons 10, 11, and 16. Point mutations were identified by nonisotopic cycle sequencing of PCR-products using an automated DNA-sequencer. Results were compared with the disease phenotype, clinical findings, and follow-up.Results. Six different missense germline mutations were identified at cysteine residues 618, 630, and 634 of the cysteine-rich extracellular RET domain encoded by exons 10 and 11 in all patients with FMTC and MEN 2A. The frequency of mutations at codon 634 was higher in patients with MEN 2A than with FMTC and a 634 Cys[right arrow] Arg mutation was associated with parathyroid disease in three patients. A germline Met[right arrow] Thr point mutation at codon 918 of the RET tyrosine kinase domain was identified in all three patients with MEN 2B. Two patients with clinically sporadic MTCs and negative family history exhibited a BET germline mutation at codon 634, indicating the presence of an nonpredicted inherited MTC. Furthermore, one patient had a 618 Cys[right arrow] Ser mutation in the tumor and nontumorous thyroid DNA but not in blood DNA, indicating a mosaic mutation affecting thyroid tissue but not blood cells. Tumor specific (somatic) Met Thr point mutations at codon 918 were identified in 5 of 13 sporadic MTCs. The remaining eight sporadic MTCs lacked mutations in all three BET exons tested.Conclusions, This study demonstrates that (1) the molecular methods are not only suitable to identify asymptomatic individuals at risk for MEN 2A, FMTC, and MEN 2B but also to distinguish heritable from nonheritable MTCs using archival tissue specimens, and (2) that more MTCs than clinically expected are heritable, indicating the need for genetic analysis of all patients with MTC. Cancer 1995; 76:479-89.

Background. The authors previously found p53 mutations in 24% of malignant thyroid tumors, representing a wide staging spectrum. Overexpression of MDM2, most often due to gene amplification, has been suggested to be an additional mechanism for abrogation of the p53 function. In the current study, MDM2 gene expression and amplification were examined in a randomly selected subset of these tumors to explore the possibility that wildtype p53 may be inactivated by complexing with MDM2 in specimens without p53 mutations. Methods. MDM2 gene expression and amplification were studied by Northern and Southern blot analysis, respectively. Twenty-two thyroid tumors were included: 16 papillary carcinomas, 1 follicular carcinoma, 3 anaplastic carcinomas, and 2 multinodular goiters (adenomatous goiters). Results. A two- to threefold increase in MDM2 expression in 4 of 20 thyroid carcinomas was found. It was noteworthy that all of these four samples harbored p53 mutations. The association between increased MDM2 expression and p53 mutation was statistically significant (P < 0.005). No evidence of MDM2 gene amplification or rearrangement accounting for such an increase in MDM2 expression was found. Conclusions. Genetic and/or environmental factors contributing to random p53 mutations also may cause increased MDM2 expression. Given the moderate increase in MDM2 expression without associated genetic alterations such as gene amplification and rearrangement, MDM2 may not play any significant role in the development and progression of thyroid carcinoma. Cancer 1995; 76:314-8. Key words: MDM2, p53, thyroid cancer, gene expression, gene amplification.

Background. The ret proto-oncogene activation (PTC/[ret.sup.TPC] oncogene) in thyroid papillary carcinoma has been reported in different populations with different frequencies. Thyroid papillary carcinoma appears to behave more aggressively in the Persian Gulf region than elsewhere. In the current study, the frequency of PTC/ret[sup.TPC] oncogene in thyroid tumors from Saudi Arabia was investigated. Methods. PTC/[ret.sup.TPC] oncogene transcripts were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction amplification of cDNA synthesized by treatment of total RNA with reverse transcriptase. Seven multinodular goiters, 1 follicular adenoma, 4 follicular carcinomas, 40 papillary carcinomas, and 5 anaplastic carcinomas were studied. Results. Only one papillary carcinoma specimen was found to have PTC/[ret.sup.TPC] oncogene transcripts. The breakpoint of the rearranged PTC/[ret.sup.TPC] oncogene is identical to that previously described. The PTC/[ret.sup.TPC]-positive sample was also examined for p53 tumor suppressor gene mutations in exons 5-8. One transitional point mutation was detected at codon 161 (GCC to ACC), changing Ala to Thr. Conclusions. This study questions the relevance of [PTC/[ret.sup.TPC] oncogene in the carcinogenesis of thyroid papillary carcinomas in the Saudi population. Genetic background among races may contribute to the different frequencies of PTC/[ret.sup.TPC] oncogene in thyroid papillary carcinoma.

2016 MAR 12 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Fresh data on Oncology are presented in a new report. According to [...]

2016 JAN 23 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Research findings on Oncology are discussed in a new report. According to [...]

2016 JAN 2 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Research findings on Oncology are discussed in a new report. According to [...]

Background. The Gs alpha (Gs[alpha]) gene can be activated to the putative oncogene gsp by specific point mutations at codons 201 or 227. Such mutations have been reported in growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary adenomas and thyroid tumors. To clarify the role of Gs[alpha] gene in human endocrine tumors, 197 tumors were screened for point mutations at codons 201 or 227 of the Gs[alpha] gene. Methods. Mutations were detected by primer-introduced restriction analysis (PIRA) of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product of genomic DNA. Results. These Gs[alpha] mutations were present in 4 of 53 pituitary adenomas (4 of 43 GH-secreting adenomas; 1 of these 4 was a GH- and prolactin-secreting adenoma from a patient with familial multiple endocrine neoplasia Type 1), 4 of 66 thyroid tumors (4 of 30 papillary carcinomas), and 1 of 19 adrenocortical adenomas (1 of 6 aldosterone-secreting adenomas). In contrast, none of these Gs[alpha] mutations were detected in parathyroid tumors, endocrine pancreatic tumors, or pheochromocytomas. Conclusions. Gs[alpha] mutations at these two loci may play a role in the pathogenesis of a small population of GH-secreting pituitary adenomas, papillary thyroid carcinomas, and adrenocortical adenomas, but that they are not involved in the pathogenesis of other types of endocrine tumors.

2015 NOV 14 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Researchers detail new data in Oncology. According to news originating from Columbus, [...]

2015 OCT 24 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- According to news reporting originating from Alexandria, Virginia, by NewsRx journalists, a [...]

2015 SEP 12 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Current study results on Oncology have been published. According to news reporting [...]

2015 AUG 29 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Current study results on Oncology have been published. According to news reporting [...]

2015 JUL 18 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Research findings on Algorithms are discussed in a new report. According to [...]

2015 JUN 27 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Current study results on Genetics have been published. According to news reporting [...]

2015 JUN 27 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week -- Investigators discuss new findings in Oncology. According to news reporting from Lisbon, [...]